An article recently published in Time with a headline undoubtedly intended to stir controversy has been making the rounds on social media.
“Never forget the most essential ingredient to achieving the ideal body, beyond genetics, is wealth,” Engeln says. “Wealth buys you access to healthy foods, the time and resources to make working out an unpaid part-time job.”
“The muscular arm, then, is not just a marker of strength. It is a marker of privilege. And in that way, even as it signals power, it reinscribes control—defining women’s bodies by standards that only the few can ever meet.”
This is complete BS.
Unfortunately articles like this discourage people from seeking healthier lifestyles because they promote the notion of health being unobtainable.
Being healthy and achieving “muscular arms” (an insignificant byproduct of a healthy body) is achievable by anyone. Not everyone however will want to put forth the hard work or exhibit discipline and accountability required to get there.
The path to health does not have to be paved with golden bricks. Sure money may be able to expedite the process, but that’s not necessarily better. The health and fitness space is littered with profiteering influencers who make a living exploiting unhealthy people who are looking for a quick fix.
A quick fix almost always results in a quick return to the same problems, and in many cases you’re actually worse off than you were at the start.
When it comes to health and fitness there are no shortcuts no matter how wealthy or powerful you are.
One of my favorite sayings is: ‘If you walk 10 miles into the woods you have to walk 10 miles to get back out”
The author of this terrible article is Anne Marie Chaker, a journalist turned competitive bodybuilder who changed her life through weightlifting. I’m surprised she’d write an article that sends such a discouraging message when she’s had such a seemingly positive experience with fitness.
Unfortunately though, as an author Anne is concerned about clicks and views before health and as a bodybuilder she believes health is measured by toned arms and appearance rather than A1c, body fat percentage and blood pressure.
She’s a reporter, journalist, author, bodybuilder and fitness influencer,
but she’s certainly not a health professional.
So why bother, right? May as well crack open a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and see what’s on Netflix.
Where there’s a will there’s a way.
These days however it seems “will” is in short supply.
No matter the scenario, there are always people who create their own path to their goals. The differentiating characteristic of these people is desire. They have a drive that’s uninterrupted by this article whereas most others let it extinguish their will to try.
The quote from the top of this post reads: “Never forget the most essential ingredient to achieving the ideal body, beyond genetics, is wealth,”
You should actually forget that immediately. Because it’s patently false.
In reality there are a few essential ingredients and none of them are wealth.
– Commitment
– Accountability
– Open Mindedness
There are many examples of people finding success in health in spite of dire social or economic situations. The link below is to an article highlighting one such extreme example of athletes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
There are those who say they’re going to start taking their health seriously and there’s those who actually start making changes. No matter how much you pay for a trainer, nutritionist or gym membership nothing changes if nothing changes.
There are a variety of ways aside from making your own equipment in the sub-saharan desert to get healthy without being wealthy.
It costs $0.00 to go for a walk every morning.
– It does however require getting up a little earlier and getting out the door.
Eating whole foods (meat, vegetables, nuts and seeds, fruit, starches and NO SUGAR) costs about the same or maybe even less than eating processed foods, fast food or dining out.
– But it does require a little more time shopping and cooking to prepare meals.
CrossFit (and many others) gives free access to thousands of videos and articles teaching anyone how to improve health through nutrition and exercise — CrossFit: FREE At Home Workouts
– These are all readily available to anyone, but only benefit those who are open to taking the time to watch, read and learn on their own.
None of these things are expensive.
None of these things are complicated.
– But, all of these things require the will to put forth some effort.
As it turns out toned arms are in fact a status symbol. But they don’t represent the status of your bank account.
They represent the willpower, accountability and dedication that’s within everyone but only demonstrated by very few.